Classical School Graduates Are:

Classical School Graduates Are:

Classical School will develop graduates who are critical thinkers, coherent writers, confident speakers, thoughtful leaders, and responsible, compassionate, and virtuous citizens. Classical School provides an engaging learning environment where all students enjoy learning and develop life-long learning skills. As they develop their intellects and moral habits they will internalize truth, beauty and goodness.

CRITICAL THINKERS
Independent thinkers: If a student were asked to read Plato, Virgil, Augustine, Aquinas or Locke because there will be a test on their content, the student would likely find them uninteresting. Our students read with a purpose. Like a treasure hunt, they are looking for the connections and development of ideas that span all great literature. When reason and belief are integrated, students are unlikely to be persuaded by college dogma.

COHERENT WRITERS
If you are ‘coherent’ in the way you write it means everything in your writing is logically laid out and connected. Classical School scholars will express themselves clearly and continuously through their essays and writings.

CONFIDENT SPEAKERS
Simply put, those who communicate well have a tremendous advantage in life. Many skills and talents lie undeveloped and ideas untried because an individual cannot express their ideas clearly and persuasively. The ancient Greeks realized this and thus began the study of rhetoric. Our students study logic and as the school grows they will more fully engage in debates, defend their ideas intelligently, and will practice the art of expression both orally and in writing.

THOUGHTFUL LEADERS
We also strive to develop thoughtful leaders. The term “thoughtful leaders” can be interpreted to be those that think deeply or as those that are considerate of the needs of others. Both of these character traits will be pursued and developed by the classical scholar.

VIRTUOUS CITIZENS
Aristotle identifies ethical virtue as “a habit, disposed toward action by deliberate choice, being at the mean relative to us, and defined by reason as a prudent man would define it.” According to Aristotle, “virtues arise in us neither by nature nor contrary to nature; but by our nature can we receive them and perfect them by habituation.” Classical upholds ethical virtue.

Courtesy of Parnassus Preparatory School